Men's Soccer

Men's Soccer 2007 Season Preview

Aug 07, 2007

National Championship

Those are the two buzzwords surrounding the
2007 edition of the York College men’s soccer program. The
Spartans open the campaign riding a 40-match unbeaten streak, an
active scoreless streak of 855:05, and are the two-time defending
Capital Athletic Conference regular season and tournament
champions.

Add to those facts that the Spartans return
80.3% of their goal scoring, 75.8% of their assists, and 78.0% of
their total points from 2006’s 21-0-3 squad. Those numbers do
not take into account a recruiting class that head coach Mark
Ludwig calls one of the best in his nine seasons at the helm of the
Spartan program.

“This team has a legitimate claim to be
a national championship contender,” says Ludwig.
“However, there are a number of steps and goals that must be
accomplished first.”

Ludwig welcomes back all three of his
All-Americans, almost the entire defense, most of the midfield, and
all but one forward from last year’s team that finished with
the highest winning percentage in all of Division III.

Forward Andrew Wheeler became one of the most
decorated players in Spartan history. He was named the Capital
Athletic Conference Player-of-the-Year, a South Region
All-American, and a first-team NSCAA Division III All-American. He
also was recognized by d3kicks.com as an All-American as he
finished 23rd in the nation in points per game, 36th in goals per
game, and 50th in assists per game. Wheeler notched 49 points on 19
goals and 11 assists while he tallied an impressive 11 game-winning
goals.

“Andrew had a tremendous season last
year,” states Ludwig. “I believe he should be even
better this year. He has grown as a player and a person in the last
year and that could prove to be extremely dangerous for our
opponents.”

Senior midfielder Chris Ports followed up a
stellar sophomore campaign with an even better junior season. Ports
joined Wheeler on the NSCAA first-team All-American squad, as they
became the first two players in the program’s history to earn
the highest All-American honors. Ports was first-team All-CAC for
the third time in 2006 while he was a South Region All-American for
the second straight year. Ports tallied 23 points on seven goals
and nine assists as he continues to climb the career-scoring list
for the green and white.

“Chris is one of the best players in the
history of the program,” states Ludwig. “He is as
dangerous as any player in the nation. His ability to deliver
pin-point passes and break down the defense on the dribble make him
one of the best attacking players in Division III.”

The Spartans’ third All-American is
defender Evan Scheffey. Scheffey, a junior defender, is a key cog
in the central defense for the green and white. He spearheads a
unit that allowed a mere 10 goals in 2,252 minutes last year. The
Spartans defense finished sixth in the country in goals against
average and tenth in shutout percentage. Scheffey earned third-team
d3kicks.com All-American honors.

“Evan is a vocal leader in the
back,” says Ludwig. “He will look to once again be one
of the top central defenders in the country.”

Wheeler will not lack for partners up top, as
the offense should prove to be lethal in 2007. Wheeler is joined by
sophomore Jon Ports, senior Jason Mancuso, senior Charlie Barrett,
and freshman Van Hare. Ports joins older brother Chris after a year
at the University of Maryland where he saw action in six games.
Ports is a dynamic attacking player that meshed well with the
Spartans in the spring season. His creativity and flair should
provide the Spartans with enhanced scoring opportunities in 2007.
Mancuso is a quick and technical attacker that transferred to York
from Central Connecticut State. He will be expected to contribute
to the Spartan attack. Barrett returns to the Spartan lineup after
notching nine points on four goals and an assist in 2006. Barrett
is a versatile athlete that can play anywhere on the field for
Coach Ludwig. Hare begins his first year in the green and white
after spending the fall of 2006 to get stronger and prepare him for
2007. He is a tall, lanky target that has a very high work rate
with intelligent running.

“I really like this group of
forwards,” says Ludwig. “I think we have a chance to be
a very high scoring team, which combined with our outstanding
defense, gives us a chance to be a team that can dominate
matches.”

Ports headlines a midfield group that can
dominate possession and control the tempo of matches.

Nantais is a three-year Spartan that has been
hampered by injury. He saw action in 13 games last year, recording
two assists from the midfield. He is a gifted player that should
flourish in the middle of the field. Smith hails from Scotland and
is a gifted central midfielder that provides York with some bite in
the midfield. Smith will be the Spartans’ first international
player during Coach Ludwig’s tenure. Stromberg is a technical
midfielder with a good work rate and will contribute with both
possession and scoring. Eaton returns as an All-CAC second team
selection as a junior. The physical Eaton tallied seven points on a
goal and five assists but his value comes in his strong and
dominate play in the middle. Yarnall, a Spartan captain, was held
back by injuries last year but ended the season strong with steady
play during the Spartans’ CAC and NCAA tournament run.
Yarnall tallied an assist in 14 games last year. He had an
outstanding spring season and has put himself in position for a
spot in the Spartan rotation in 2007. Yutzy, a local York County
product, will give the Spartans some much needed size in the middle
of the pitch. Yutzy is a physical ball-winner that can hold
possession or push forward into the attack. Temple returns to the
Spartans after a knee injury cost him 2006. Temple is an
intelligent player that can win possession and initiate the attack
with exciting passing.

Lane came on for the Spartans toward the
middle of last season. He finished the campaign with a goal and
three assists in 23 games. Lane is extremely dangerous in the
attack with blistering speed. He is able to cover a lot of ground
on the flanks both offensively and defensively. Suchoski had a very
good freshman year for the Spartans. He notched seven points on
three goals and an assist. Suchoski is dangerous off the dribble
and provides excellent service into the finishing area. Williams is
an extremely intelligent player that will add to the Spartan flanks
in 2006. He tallied two goals and three assists last year, as he
possesses excellent game sense. Williams has the ability to make
the simple plays whether that be in the attack or in possession.
Detzel comes to York from the University of Pittsburgh where he
played the previous two years. He was a first-team PA All-State
selection at Central York in 2004. O’Connell is another
player that suffered with injuries last year, costing him
additional playing time as a freshman. He is a creative player on
the flank that had an impressive spring campaign which will put him
in the mix for 2007. Carr had a strong freshman year as he appeared
in all 24 matches, starting 11 of those contests. He has the
potential to increase his goal scoring and become more dangerous in
the attacking third of the field for York. Fornwalt returns for his
third year in the green and white. He will look to regain the form
he flashed as a freshman as injuries robbed him of a consistent
2006. He will look to regain his fitness and provide dangerous
service from the left flank. Emil is a talented midfielder that has
the potential to be one of the most dangerous attacking newcomers
in the CAC. He can hold possession or combine with teammates. Emil
should find a spot in the Spartan rotation as a freshman either as
a flank or central midfielder.

“The group of central and wide
midfielders is very deep and very talented,” says Ludwig.
“They possess all the abilities that we desire from our
midfield. We should be able to control tempo and maintain quality
possession with this group of players.”

Scheffey and fellow captain Mike Whalen anchor
the central defense, as they are the heart of an outstanding
defense. They are joined by freshman Adam Good while sophomore
Scott Becker and Barrett could also see time in the middle of the
back.

Whalen is a solid athlete that has great
composure and also fits into the Spartans’ team defensive
concepts. Good is a solid ball -winner that is comfortable with
distribution once the ball is won. Becker was very steady as a
freshman and should be even better as a sophomore. He is a very
composed player and is a shutdown defender. Becker is versatile
enough to play in the middle or out wide.

The wide defenders include senior Matt Beale,
freshman Tim Liermann, freshman Javier Perez, sophomore Brett
Sauerberger, and junior Mark Turkewitz. Beale was a second-team
All-CAC defender in 2006, the second time he was honored by the
conference. Beale also earned third-team South Region All-American
honors for YCP. Beale finished his junior year as one of the most
dangerous attacking defenders in the region. Beale tallied 12
points on four goals and four assists from his defensive position.
His ability to push into the attack and create scoring chances
caise difficult match ups for Spartan opponents. Liermann provides
excellent left-footed service to the midfield while he also can
push into the attack for the green and white. Perez is an athletic
and technical left sided player that can stretch the defense with
his accurate passing. Sauerberger returns for his sophomore year
after seeing limited time as a freshman. Sauerberger had a strong
spring after playing in eight games in 2006. Turkewitz comes to
York from Juniata College. He is a hard working wide defender that
will have a chance to work himself into the Spartan rotation.

“Our defense is outstanding, both
individually and as a group,” says Ludwig. “Their play
last fall was a big key to our success and that’s something
that we hope will hold true once again this fall. They do a great
job of shutting down the opponents’ attack and getting the
ball forward to initiate the attack.”

The Spartans are stacked in goal as returning
starter Kyle Marks headlines the strong group. Marks is joined by
junior Kyle Brooten, sophomore Ryan Hock, and freshman transfer
Jeff Butchar.

Marks was a first-team All-CAC pick and a
first-team NSCAA South Region All-American in 2006. He was simply
outstanding as he posted a record of 20-0-3 with eight shutouts in
2,001:47 in net. Marks registered a save percentage of .895 which
ranked him tenth in the nation. His 0.405 goals against average
placed him ninth in all of Division III. Hock is net minder that
could be starting for a number of other squads in the region. He is
a great athlete that did not allow a goal in 139 minutes of action
in 2006. Hock had a strong off-season and is prepared to make a run
at the number one spot. Brooten was the Spartans’ number
three goalkeeper last year and, with more consistency, will have a
chance to battle for one of the top two spots. Butchar is a
transfer from Rider University. He has excellent size and
athleticism that will allow him to compete for time in the net.

“I am not sure any team in the nation
has the depth that we have in goal,” says Ludwig. “We
have four guys that can be very successful if called upon. Having
this group of goalkeepers along with our talented backs makes us
very formidable defensively.”

Ludwig knows the schedule will provide the
Spartans with a stern task. In addition to the traditionally tough
CAC slate, the green and white will host the defending national
champion Messiah Falcons while Christopher Newport, Gettysburg, and
Arcadia will also visit Graham Field. The Spartan road schedule
includes a trip to the CNU/Joe Pombriant Tournament as well as
non-conference treks to Lynchburg, Johns Hopkins, and Susquehanna.

“Our schedule is set up to prepare us
for the CAC and NCAA Tournaments,” says Ludwig. “I feel
that playing a tough schedule is one of the features of this
program. Our kids want to compete against the best in the country
and this schedule allows us to do that.”

Ludwig believes that this season could be the
greatest in Spartan history.

“We will start practice in August
looking for daily improvement,” states the Spartan mentor.
“Our goal will be to improve each and every day. The attitude
of constant improvement will carry us throughout the season. We
have a number of goals that we want to achieve but if we
don’t see consistent improvement, those goals will be
difficult to accomplish.”

The Spartans open their 2007 season on
September 1 when they host Albright College at Graham Field.